मया सृष्टानि विप्रेंद्र भुवनानि चतुर्दश
I have created, O foremost of Brahmins, the fourteen worlds,
पुरा यमस्तपस्तप्त्वा बहुकालं सुदुष्करम् 4.1.22.
Long ago, Yama performed severe austerities for a long time,
चराचरस्य सर्वस्य यानि कर्माणि तानि वै
All the actions of everything, both moving and unmoving,
प्रवेशो यमदूतानां न कदाचिद्द्विजोत्तम
There is never entry for Yama's messengers, O best of Brahmins,
स्वयं नियंता विश्वेशस्तत्र काश्यां तनुत्यजाम्
The Lord of all, the self-governing ruler, relinquished his body there in Kāśī.
तत्र पापं न कर्तव्यं दारुणा रुद्रयातना
There, one must not commit sin; dreadful are the torments of Rudra.
पापमेव हि कर्तव्यं मतिरस्ति यदीदृशी
Indeed, only sin should be committed if one possesses such a disposition.
अपि कामातुरो जंतुरेकां रक्षति मातरम्
Even a creature overwhelmed by desire protects his mother alone.
परापवादशीलेन परदाराभिलाषिणा
With a nature inclined to slander others and desiring another's wife,
अभिलष्यंति ये नित्यं धनं चात्र प्रतिग्रहैः
Those who constantly covet wealth here through gifts,
परपीडाकरं कर्म काश्यां नित्यं विवर्जयेत्
One should always avoid actions causing harm to others in Kāśī.
त्यक्त्वा वैश्वेश्वरीं भक्तिं येऽन्यदेवपरायणाः 4.1.22.
Having abandoned devotion to Viśveśvarī, those devoted to other deities—
न योगेन विना ज्ञानं योगस्तत्त्वार्थशीलनम् 4.1.22.
Without yoga, there is no knowledge; yoga is the practice of the true meaning.
उक्तेति विररामाजः शृण्वतोर्गणयोस्तयोः
Having spoken thus, Aja ceased, as the two Gaṇas listened.
शिवशर्मोवाच सत्यलोकेश्वर विधे सर्वेषां प्रपितामह
Śivaśarman said: O Lord of Satyaloka, O creator, ancestor of all,
पिपृच्छिषुस्त्वं निर्वाणं गणौ तत्कथयिष्यतः
You, the disciple, inquire about liberation from the Gaṇas as they are about to narrate it.
नेतयोर्विष्णुगणयोरगोचरमिहास्ति हि
Indeed, here exists what is beyond the reach of these two, the Gaṇas of Viṣṇu.
इत्युक्त्वा सत्कृतास्ते वै ब्रह्मणा भगवद्गणाः
Having spoken thus, those divine Gaṇas were honored by Brahmā.
पुनः स्वयानमारुह्य वैकुंठमभितो ययुः
Then, mounting their own vehicle again, they departed towards Vaikuṇṭha.
पृच्छाम्यन्यच्च वां भद्रौ ब्रूतं प्रीत्या तदप्यहो
I ask you something else, O blessed ones; kindly tell it with affection, indeed.
कांच्यवंती द्वारवती काश्ययोध्या च पंचमी
Kāñcī, Avantī, Dvāravatī, Kāśī, and Ayodhyā are the fifth.
विहाय षट्पुरीश्चान्याः काश्यामेवप्रतिष्ठिता
Abandoning the other six cities, they are established only in Kāśī.
इति सर्वं मम पुरः प्रसादाद्वक्तुमर्हतम्
Thus, by your grace, you are worthy to speak all this before me.
यथार्थं कथयावस्ते यत्पृष्टं भवतानघ 4.1.23.
Tell me truthfully, as you have been asked, O sinless one.
विप्रावभासते यावत्किरणैः पुष्पवंतयोः
As long as the rays of the two flower-bearing ones shine forth, O Brahmin,
वियच्च तावदुपरि विस्तारपरिमंडलम्
so long does the expanse of the sky above them extend in a circular form.
भानोः सकाशादुपरि लक्षे लक्ष्यः क्षपाकरः
Above the sun, at a hundred thousand leagues, is the moon, the illuminator of night.
उडुमंडलतः सौम्य उपरिष्टाद्द्विलक्षतः
Above the sphere of the moon, gentle one, at twice that distance, are the stars.
माहेयादुपरिष्टाच्च सुरेज्यो नियुतद्वये
Above the region of the stars, at two hundred thousand leagues, is the realm of the gods.
दशायुतसमुच्छ्रायं सौरेः सप्तर्षिमंडलम्
Ten hundred thousand leagues above the sun is the constellation of the Seven Sages.